RESUMO
Animal health has a direct bearing on human health and wellbeing not only in the production and protection of safe food but also in the prevention, control and eradication of zoonoses, environmental hazard protection, disaster preparedness, health education, comparative medical research, mental and emotional health and health administration. As a result, it has a fundamental role in primary health care and attainment of the goal "health for all by the year 2000 (HFA/2000) and if Veterinary Public Health (VPH) is to achieve its human health goals PHC, principles must permeate all levels of VPH programmes. The aim of this study is to determine knowledge, attitude and practice of senior managers, within the Ministry of Health and Agriculture in Jamaica in relation to intersectoral collaboration when planning, organizing and managing VPH programmes and to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of users of the veterinary services in relation to the utilization of veterinary skills for public health purposes. Senior managers and users of the veterinary services at the Ministry of Agriculture were compared to those at the Ministry of Health. Data analysis was done by computers and the Epi Info package was used. There was statistically no differences in attitude and knowledge between senior managers of the two ministries, but practice was showing some differences. There were statistically significant differences among the different categories of users at the Ministry of Health in relation to knowledge of the veterinary service (Kruskal - Wallis H=80.544 d.f.= 3 p<.01), and attitude (Kruskal - Wallis H 80.544 d.f. = 3p< .01). Statistically significant differences in attitude between users of the two ministries were revealed (Kruskal-Wallis H = 23.456 d.f. = 1 p < .01). the study revealed that a low level of significance given to intersectoral collaboration and recommendations were made as to how the linkages between the two sectors could be established. The study also revealed a low level of knowledge of the VPH service among users of the veterinary services within the two ministries, recommendations are also made on how this situation could be improved (AU)
